IllustrationTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL UNDERHOOD/ENGINE/ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS. RECALL# 02V171000 SCC
1997 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
125–50K
650–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
0150K+
30 reports with mileage · 72 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports16 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
102 reportsFAILURE OF REAR O2 SENSOR THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER STATES THE ALTERNATOR FAILED ON THE VEHICLE, AND IS NOW REQUESTING A REFUND.*JB
FOG LIGHTS, BELTS, TRUNK RELEASE, ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND BATTERY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE NEW FOG LIGHT INSTALLED BECAUSE THE OLD ONES HAD BROWN MOISTURE IN THE LIGHT. THE TRUNK RELEASE STOPPED WORKING AND AS A RESULT THE TRUNK COULD ONLY BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHI…
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FOG LIGHTS, BELTS, TRUNK RELEASE, ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND BATTERY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE NEW FOG LIGHT INSTALLED BECAUSE THE OLD ONES HAD BROWN MOISTURE IN THE LIGHT. THE TRUNK RELEASE STOPPED WORKING AND AS A RESULT THE TRUNK COULD ONLY BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AGAIN BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. *NM
FAULTY PART SEEMS TO BE THE VENT CONTROL VALVE TO THE EVAP CANISTER, BUT ODB-II RESULTS IN MANY FAULTY CODES. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM (APPROX. $500.00) SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS CAR ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769313
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR. ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS
THE HOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTED BY SHOCKS, BUT THEY FAIL AFTER A FEW YEARS. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO, THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN MOMENTS AFTER MY HEAD WAS UNDER IT. NOW, IT WON'T STAY UP AT ALL. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME IT WOULDN'T STAY UP AND THEY SAID B/C IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFTE…
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THE HOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTED BY SHOCKS, BUT THEY FAIL AFTER A FEW YEARS. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO, THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN MOMENTS AFTER MY HEAD WAS UNDER IT. NOW, IT WON'T STAY UP AT ALL. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME IT WOULDN'T STAY UP AND THEY SAID B/C IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFTER A FEW YEARS AND THEY DON'T RELY ON IT ANYWAY. SEEMS THEY SHOULD TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT AND RETURN TO A ROD-SUPPORTED HOOD. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR INJURY TO UNAWARE CUSTOMERS, AND THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS KNOW ABOUT IT (AND DON'T TELL) IS SCARY.*AK
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR BEFORE FIRE STARTED, OR WAS NOTICED. FIRE DEPT. SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I FOUND RECALL ON WEB, WHICH I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF!!!! POOR WORK ON NOTIFICATION NISSAN! ARE THEY REALLY SENDING NOTICES OUT?*AK
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER WAS HIT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF AND STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
102V171000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
Jun 24, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02034 · Alternator Fires
Opened Mar 15, 2002 · Closed Jul 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.